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{{For|the Union general and Kansas senator|James H. Lane (Senator)}}
[[Image:James Henry Lane CSA.jpg|thumb|James Henry Lane, CSA]]
[[Image:James Henry Lane CSA.jpg|thumb|James Henry Lane, CSA]]
'''James Henry Lane''' ([[July 28]], [[1833]] – [[September 21]], [[1907]]) was a university professor and [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] [[general]] in the [[American Civil War]]. He is considered to be the father of [[Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University]] and is the namestake of the Universities oldest building [[Lane Hall]] and [[Lane Stadium]].
'''James Henry Lane''' ([[July 28]], [[1833]] – [[September 21]], [[1907]]) was a university professor and [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] [[general]] in the [[American Civil War]]. He is considered to be the father of [[Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University]] and is the namestake of the University's oldest building, [[Lane Hall]], and [[Lane Stadium]].

Another man with the identical name, [[James H. Lane (Senator)|James Henry Lane]], was also prominent in the Civil War era, but on the opposite side: an anti-slavery advocate, [[U.S. Army]] General, and [[senator]] from [[Kansas]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
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==Civil War==
==Civil War==
Lane was commissioned as a [[Major (United States)| major]] in the [[Confederate States Army]] and assigned to the 1st North Carolina Infantry [[regiment]] on [[May 11]], [[1861]]. Promotions came quickly and he was a [[Colonel (United States)| colonel]] and commander of the 28th North Carolina by [[September 15]]. In the [[Seven Days Battles]] of 1862 he was twice wounded leading his regiment. He served in [[Major General#United States| Maj. Gen.]] [[A.P. Hill]]'s division of [[Stonewall Jackson|Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson]]'s Corps for [[Second Bull Run]] and received his own brigade for the [[Battle of Antietam]]. He was promoted to [[Brigadier General#United States| brigadier general]] in November 1862, and assumed command of the 2nd Brigade in [[William Dorsey Pender|Pender]]'s Division of Hill's Third Corps of the [[Army of Northern Virginia]] the following May, during the beginning of the [[Gettysburg Campaign]].
Lane was commissioned as a [[Major (United States)| major]] in the [[Confederate States Army]] and assigned to the 1st North Carolina Infantry [[regiment]] on [[May 11]], [[1861]]. Promotions came quickly and he was a [[Colonel (United States)| colonel]] and commander of the 28th North Carolina by [[September 15]]. In the [[Seven Days Battles]] of 1862 he was twice wounded leading his regiment. He served in [[Major General#United States| Maj. Gen.]] [[A.P. Hill]]'s division of [[Stonewall Jackson|Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson]]'s Corps for [[Second Bull Run]] and received his own brigade for the [[Battle of Antietam]]. He was promoted to [[Brigadier General#United States| brigadier general]] in November 1862, and assumed command of the 2nd Brigade in [[William Dorsey Pender]]'s Division of Hill's Third Corps of the [[Army of Northern Virginia]] the following May, during the beginning of the [[Gettysburg Campaign]].


At the [[Battle of Gettysburg]], Lane briefly assumed command of Pender's division following that officer's mortal wounding on [[July 2]], [[1863]], but he was replaced by Maj. Gen. [[Isaac R. Trimble]] and returned to lead his brigade during Pickett's Charge.
At the [[Battle of Gettysburg]], Lane's brigade fought on the first day ([[July 1]], [[1863]]) and Lane briefly assumed command of Pender's division following that officer's mortal wounding on the second day. He was replaced in division command by Maj. Gen. [[Isaac R. Trimble]] and returned to lead his brigade during [[Pickett's Charge]]. Over the three-day battle, his brigade suffered almost 50% casualties.<ref>Warner, p. 173.</ref>


In 1864 and 1865, Lane continued in division command, through the [[Overland Campaign]], [[Siege of Petersburg]], and the [[Appomattox Campaign|retreat]] to [[Appomattox Court House]]. At the [[Battle of Cold Harbor]], he was wounded in the groin.
In 1864, Lane continued in brigade command, through the [[Overland Campaign]] and [[Siege of Petersburg]]. At the [[Battle of Cold Harbor]], he was wounded in the groin. In February and March 1865, he commanded [[Cadmus M. Wilcox]]'s division. He continued to serve in the [[Appomattox Campaign]], where he was paroled at [[Appomattox Court House]].<ref>Eicher, p. 338.</ref>


==Postbellum==
==Postbellum==
[[Image:Lane Hall c 1888-89.jpg|thumb|Lane Hall circa 1888-89]]
[[Image:Lane Hall c 1888-89.jpg|thumb|Lane Hall circa 1888-89]]
Lane was paroled at Appomattox and returned to the academic life, as professor of [[civil engineering]] and commerce at [[Virginia Polytechnic Institute|Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAMC)]]&mdash;founded in 1872, name changed to Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in 1896&mdash;and from 1881 until his death, professor of civil engineering at [[Alabama Polytechnic Institute]] ([[Auburn University]]). General Lane served as the first Commandant of [[Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets|Cadets]] at VAMC. The original cadet barracks at VAMC is named after General Lane. He died in [[Auburn, Alabama]], and is buried there in Pine Hill Cemetery.
Lane returned to academic life, as professor of [[civil engineering]] and commerce at [[Virginia Polytechnic Institute|Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAMC)]]&mdash;founded in 1872, name changed to Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in 1896&mdash;and from 1881 until his death, professor of civil engineering at [[Alabama Polytechnic Institute]] ([[Auburn University]]).


General Lane served as the first Commandant of the [[Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets]] at VAMC. Before resigning, he had an argument with President Charles Minor, who wanted the college to eliminate strict military restrictions and become more civilian in nature. The argument got so heated that it concluded with a fist fight between the two. [[Hokie]] cadet tradition is that the general won. The original cadet barracks at VAMC is named after General Lane. He died in [[Auburn, Alabama]], and is buried there in Pine Hill Cemetery.
== Trivia ==

* Ironically, another man with the identical name, [[James H. Lane (Senator)|James Henry Lane]], was also prominent in the Civil War era, but on the opposite side: an anti-slavery advocate, [[U.S. Army]] General, and [[senator]] from [[Kansas]].

* Before resigning as Commandant of Cadets for what is now known as the [[Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets]], General Lane had a argument with President Charles Minor. Charles Minor wanted to do away with strict military restrictions and become more civilian in nature. The argument got so heated that it concluded with a fist fight between the two, [[Hokie]] Cadets till this day note that the general won.

==See also==
*[[Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets]]


==References==
==References==
* Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., ''Civil War High Commands'', Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
* Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., ''Civil War High Commands'', Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
* Warner, Ezra J., ''Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders'', Louisiana State University Press, 1959, ISBN 0-8071-0823-5.
*[http://www.geocities.com/branch_lane/lane-bio.html Biography]
*[http://www.geocities.com/branch_lane/lane-bio.html Web biography]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.lib.auburn.edu/archive/find-aid/501.htm Auburn University Letter Collection]
*[http://www.lib.auburn.edu/archive/find-aid/501.htm Auburn University Letter Collection]
*[http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/pcoll/civilwar/index.html?list=Confederate_Soldiers University of North Carolina Biography]


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lane, James H.}}

Revision as of 16:33, 15 February 2008

James Henry Lane, CSA

James Henry Lane (July 28, 1833September 21, 1907) was a university professor and Confederate general in the American Civil War. He is considered to be the father of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and is the namestake of the University's oldest building, Lane Hall, and Lane Stadium.

Another man with the identical name, James Henry Lane, was also prominent in the Civil War era, but on the opposite side: an anti-slavery advocate, U.S. Army General, and senator from Kansas.

Early life

Lane was born in Mathews Court House, Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1854 and the University of Virginia in 1857. He was a professor of mathematics at VMI and then of natural philosophy at the North Carolina Military Institute until the start of the War.

Civil War

Lane was commissioned as a major in the Confederate States Army and assigned to the 1st North Carolina Infantry regiment on May 11, 1861. Promotions came quickly and he was a colonel and commander of the 28th North Carolina by September 15. In the Seven Days Battles of 1862 he was twice wounded leading his regiment. He served in Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill's division of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Corps for Second Bull Run and received his own brigade for the Battle of Antietam. He was promoted to brigadier general in November 1862, and assumed command of the 2nd Brigade in William Dorsey Pender's Division of Hill's Third Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia the following May, during the beginning of the Gettysburg Campaign.

At the Battle of Gettysburg, Lane's brigade fought on the first day (July 1, 1863) and Lane briefly assumed command of Pender's division following that officer's mortal wounding on the second day. He was replaced in division command by Maj. Gen. Isaac R. Trimble and returned to lead his brigade during Pickett's Charge. Over the three-day battle, his brigade suffered almost 50% casualties.[1]

In 1864, Lane continued in brigade command, through the Overland Campaign and Siege of Petersburg. At the Battle of Cold Harbor, he was wounded in the groin. In February and March 1865, he commanded Cadmus M. Wilcox's division. He continued to serve in the Appomattox Campaign, where he was paroled at Appomattox Court House.[2]

Postbellum

Lane Hall circa 1888-89

Lane returned to academic life, as professor of civil engineering and commerce at Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAMC)—founded in 1872, name changed to Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in 1896—and from 1881 until his death, professor of civil engineering at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University).

General Lane served as the first Commandant of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets at VAMC. Before resigning, he had an argument with President Charles Minor, who wanted the college to eliminate strict military restrictions and become more civilian in nature. The argument got so heated that it concluded with a fist fight between the two. Hokie cadet tradition is that the general won. The original cadet barracks at VAMC is named after General Lane. He died in Auburn, Alabama, and is buried there in Pine Hill Cemetery.

References

  • Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
  • Warner, Ezra J., Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders, Louisiana State University Press, 1959, ISBN 0-8071-0823-5.
  • Web biography

Notes

  1. ^ Warner, p. 173.
  2. ^ Eicher, p. 338.